Getting the U.S.-China economic relationship "right" in the 21st century will be a key focus of the fourth meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic...

WASHINGTON — Getting the U.S.-China economic relationship “right” in the 21st century will be a key focus of the fourth meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Jr. said Tuesday.

Speaking at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace here, Paulson laid out the focus for the meetings that are scheduled to commence Monday in Annapolis, Md.

The Strategic Economic Dialogue meetings, or SED, are a series of high-level economic and trade talks focused on the relationship between the U.S. and China, as well as global economic issues.

The specific topics to be discussed include the impact of rising energy and food costs for both countries, rising inflation in China, currency concerns and intellectual property, Paulson noted. Energy security and environmental sustainability will also hold an important role in the talks, he said.

“The value of the SED to economic issues is clear,” Paulson said. “The SED also increases U.S.-China collaboration on security and other key international issues, making our overall relationship stronger and better.”

The meeting next week will be the first SED attended by Chinese vice premier Wang Qishan.